DISPLAY OPTIONS

The DISPLAY OPTIONS window, as illustrated in Figure 1.5.1, is located at the bottom right corner of the display screen. It displays the current part and contains the following commonly used functions.

Figure 1.5.1  Display Options

CURRENT PART

This function enables the user to set the current part. It is very important to set the current part in the eta/DYNAFORM because most of the results generated from the different functions will be stored into the current part by default. The user can click on  button to change the current part. After click the button, the system will pop up a Current Part dialog box, as illustrated in Figure 1.5.2. The user can choose one of the parts as the current part. The current part name will be displayed in the text box to the right of the Current Part button.

Figure 1.5.2  Current part dialog box

RESET

Restore all options to the default.

LINE (toggle)

Toggle checkbox on/off to show/hide the lines on display window.

SURFACE (toggle)

Toggle checkbox on/off to show/hide the surfaces on display window.

ELEMENT (toggle)

Toggle checkbox on/off to show/hide the elements on display window.

SHRINK (toggle)

Create a plot with element size being reduced by 20%. As shown in Figure 1.5.3, SHRINK ELEMENTS is useful for locating any missing and/or degenerated elements in a shell or solid structure.

Figure 1.5.3  Shrink Elements

NORMAL (toggle)

This function enables the user to display the normal direction of an element with an arrow at the center of the element and perpendicular to the surface of the element. For a solid element, the arrow points toward the bottom surface of the element. See Figure 1.5.4.

Figure 1.5.4  Elements Normal

If the user toggles on the PLATE NORMAL (COLOR) in the VIEW menu, the direction of positive element normal will be displayed using part color and gray color for negative normal direction. See Figure 1.5.5.

 

(a)                                              (b)

Figure 1.5.5  Display of elements normal direction (a) with arrows (b) with colors

 

NODE (toggle)

Toggle on/off checkbox to show/hide nodes.

 

HIDDEN (toggle)

This function improves the display integrity of 3D model.  The user may toggle on/off checkbox of the hidden lines function while the SHADING option is toggled on.  This effect creates opaque elements that prevent objects in the background from showing through objects in the foreground.

 

FILL COLOR (toggle)

The FILL COLOR function fills displayed elements with a designated color.  The function is unable to accurately represent the depth perspective of a model.  The displayed part may appear to warp or penetrate with each other. However, the FILL COLOR command displays an accurate 3D model display of the parts when it is used in conjunction with the HIDE PLOT option.

 

SHADE (toggle)

Display the 3D parts as if they were illuminated by a light source. Parts that are not directly exposed to the light source are appropriately shaded to imitate actual shading.